PIONEERING low-carbon bioplastics developers are the winner of the North Wales category at the Wales Start-Up Awards.
Successful business Plantsea Ltd, based at Menai Science Park (M-Sparc), aim to replace environmentally damaging petroleum-based plastics with biodegradable alternatives using natural resources found on the seashore.
Sponsored by Ambition North Wales, the category saw a high number of entries from across the region, representing many sector sectors, from digital innovation to the more traditional service industries.
Hedd Vaughan-Evans is Head of Operations for Ambition North Wales, he said: “Huge congratulations to the team at Plantsea on winning this award; I hope their success will inspire others. Already the business is breaking new ground, and the company has impressive plans to expand and establish its seaweed aquaculture to grow raw materials sustainably. I’m sure we’ll hear much more about them in the future as they develop innovative ways of creating sustainable alternatives to plastic.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to all the other shortlisted companies. They certainly put North Wales on the map regarding innovation and entrepreneurship, and it makes us proud to represent a region with such talent. New and small businesses are crucial to the success of our regional and national economy, and the Wales Start-Up Awards is a fantastic celebration of all nominated businesses.”
Alex Newnes and Gianmarco Sanfratello, Founders of Plantsea were delighted to receive their award: “It’s great to be recognised for our success like this. We moved to North Wales because it was an opportunity to gain business support and build our networks. The community has been vital in terms of support as we grow our business.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the founder of the Start-up Awards, said: “Plantsea is a worthy winner of the North Wales category in this year’s Wales start-up awards and is potentially a significant business both for the local economy and in having a wider global impact. The judges felt this was a strong entry that responded to the urgent global issue of plastic pollution. More importantly, it delivers a solution that helps to tackle this sustainably and is certainly a business to follow in the next few years.”
The award ceremony was held in Cardiff on the 22nd of June.
